NEW DELHI (Web Desk) – Leading South Asian experts at US universities issued a statement urging information firms in Silicon Valley to be cautious of doing business with Narendra Modi’s government, reported Indian news website.
According to Scroll.in, academics of Ivy League universities have written a letter to the firms urging them to be cautious of the Indian government that has “on several occasions already, demonstrated its disregard for human rights and civil liberties, as well as the autonomy of educational and cultural institutions”.
Over 50 academics signed the letter, including several Indians. The signatories include Columbia University’s Akeel Bilgrami, Stanford University’s Thomas Blom Hansen and the University of Chicago’s Wendy Doniger.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit Silicon Valley to promote his Digital India initiative late in September.
Digital India initiative ignores key questions about the collection of personal information and the near-certainty that such systems will be used to enhance surveillance, says statement.
The letter can be viewed here.
